Galaxy S3 Jelly Bean update for AT&T, Verizon mystifies

A few days have passed since we told you about an imminent Samsung Galaxy S3 Jelly Bean update for lucky owners over in Australia. At the time, we mentioned about the continued silence regarding a Verizon Galaxy S3 Jelly Bean update and unfortunately, the negative mood is unlikely to be changed following new reports of another Jelly Bean update starting for Canadian Galaxy S3 owners.

T-Mobile and Sprint Galaxy S3 owners should be counting themselves lucky at the moment, as they appear to be in a very select update group in the US, with Verizon and also AT&T don’t forget, yet to provide the elusive Jelly Bean update to their respective customers.

Samsung on the other hand can only sit and watch while carriers get their act together and they must be relieved to hear that there is further Jelly Bean progress over in Canada. A tweet sent out by Samsung Canada confirms that Jelly Bean rollouts will occur for the Galaxy S3 on Monday 3 December – so next week.

As you can see from the image, the update will happen OTA so customers should have their handsets at the ready waiting for the notification to arrive. What Samsung hasn’t mentioned though is what carriers will be involved, so we’ll have to wait and see whether this means that the update accounts for the likes of Bell, Telus and Rogers Galaxy S3 models together, or a single carrier individually.

An update on Canadian carrier Galaxy S3 models is likely to put further pressure on AT&T and Verizon to provide their own Jelly Bean upadte to consumers. How many carrier-specific tweaks do they intend to put on the original stock update, which is causing the delay we wonder? That is the question that a lot of frustrated Galaxy S3 owners are asking and is probably the sole reason why most will opt for a stock Nexus device like the Nexus 4 in the future.

If you are a US Galaxy S3 user still sitting with Ice Cream Sandwich after most other consumers already have Jelly Bean 4.1 or even 4.2, let us know your thoughts on Canadian models receiving the update before you.

I am very disappointed in AT&T and will certainly consider another carrier once my contract has expired. AT&T will lose 4 loyal customers because of their inability to provide their customers with timely updates. If Canada can do it, why can’t we???

Hiker0

The ONLY way Verizon could redeem there jelly bean update fiasco with the Galaxy S3 in my eyes is to release 4.2 by the end of the year. Yes, I know, that will never happen.

kcordius

My next phone a Nexus Brand especially if its LTE then I predict that the carriers version of Android will be done cause all this craziness about some carriers update while other don’t it stupid

Jay

Actually Sprint went almost bankrupt over being an iPhone carrier, it did pay off compared to the other top 4 carriers. SoftBank of course came in and rescued, one of the operators of the most advanced wireless networks in the world covering Japan. So this theory is bunk. AT&T is waiting on ISIS NFC tap banking software to wrap up, it’s partners including Verizon are also waiting. This is why google wallet doesn’t work for carrier devices…they want a chunk of that transaction and it happens to be the ISIS software that involves the largest financial institutions to work with companies like Verizon, AT&T, and even T-Mobile(yes, they have released an update…but think about how it relies on android devices and the update is known as version 1). T-mobile released ASAP probably realizing ISIS would have cost them more customers.

Taipan454

I currently have att and waiting on my update. I would like to know why the carriers Have the power to withhold are updates when honestly who uses the stuff they put on our phones?

att sucks

att sucks.

worst provider on the planet.

they do not care about their customers

they never update. Al phones should be able to update directly with google so that we can bypass att

Rocky Fernandes

AT&T sucks. I will change my career next time.

Mike

I am a geek and I always want the latest and greatest whatever as soon as possible, but I have to weigh in on this.

I used to be a Sprint customer. There is a reason that Sprint has consistently been rated at the bottom of the major carriers – lack of attention to detail and poor Customer Service. Did Sprint users get the JB update sooner than others? Yes. I would guess, however that there are plenty of bugs in Sprint’s release of JB, many of which will never be fixed. This happened to me when my EVO Shift 4G was updated from Froyo to Gingerbread. It basically rendered the phone a paperweight – known issue – LOTS of people pissed off about it, and Sprint chose to NEVER release an update to fix it! They simply do not care about their customers.

I personally would MUCH rather have to wait few months, get a tested, stable release of JB AND get the infinitely better Customer Service that Verizon provides as opposed to getting an early release of JB and have to deal with the complete morons at Sprint.

What it boils down to for me is that my Verizon GS3 works just fine on ICS – it is stable, no major issues. Do I look forward to the JB update and the new and improved features it will bring? Absolutely. But while I wait I still have a great phone with a great version of the Android OS – so I have no complaints!

I will continue to wait patiently for my update 🙂

AT&FAIL

Yes this is a bit ridiculous, ATT and Verizon are the biggest carriers and they are allowing Sprint and T-Mobile to step all over them with this earlier release of the newest Android Operating System. Then to say we boast a better signal, faster internet, etc… pathetic! AT&T and Verizon should be damn ashamed of themselves. They are sure making it look like they dont give a s**t about their customers who have been sitting on ICS while everyone else with the same phones or worse phones have the newest operating systems! Wow!

updateasap

I just switched from the iPhone to a galaxy s3 and just realized how dumb the android platform is. Apple has it over android in the updates. This is dumb that all new phones can’t update to the new OS the same day. Way to screw everyone over android and Samsung.

TeddyP

Im starting to really hate verizon

Dakota Wirtz

I am also extremely tired of waiting for this update but all I want is an exact date and a promise that the update will come out on that date!

Damn Canadians…They torture us by sending their WMD’s, Celine Dion & Justin Bieber, to the US & then they get the JB update ahead of us. I am guessing the Canadian PM has a GS3 & called the Korean PM to tell him they were going to send their singing WMD’s to Korea for a few years if Samsung didn’t release a Canadian S3 update ASAP.

Hiker0

This is getting to the point of ridiculous. Saw today that the Android binaries for 4.2.1 were sent out. The majority of the world has received jellybean on there s3. Something is starting to look very fishy about the delay of jellybean on Verizon and AT&T. Are these companies holding back on this update due to some agenda? Do they hire the bottom of the talent pool to work on these updates. It seems like companies this large and in the United States would be on there game, apparently that is not the case. I have seen no major problems plastered on Google from other s3 users abut their jellybean update. The lack of communication between carriers and there customers is truly horrible. How hard is it to send out a two sentence tweet letting your customers(you know the ones that give you crap loads of money each month) that you haven’t forgotten about them and they are important to you.

I think it’s wrong, I got this phone when it was fresh on the market and now I can’t even get the update for a couple months, when friends are buying the phone for cheaper and they are getting better software

Tyler

Verizon is retarted

Robbers

Go Canada! Nah but forreal this is even pretty late for us up north… as much as I love the hardware on this beautiful phone… without the software updates it doesn’t feel top of the line like it should…………… shame on these carriers

punkboi26

This is just absolutely insane that the flagship Verizon Android phone in the US is still using the old ICS version. Verizon should be ashamed plain and simple. I speak only for Verizon as I have been with them for years now and am at the very least happy with their 4G coverage in my area and the surrounding region. Other than that, I can’t stand how slow Verizon is to update their devices and how often they ditch perfectly good hardware capable of running these new updated OS to force the customers into buying the newest phones if they want the newest version of Android. It’s nonsense. I own my own business and I have a very happy clientele because I try to give them what they expect, extended product life. I do not focus on the almighty dollar as my main objective. I focus on happy customers as they will ensure that I continue to keep their business and subsequently their money. I like happy customers and I want to keep them. Verizon should be doing the same.

Lis

It is the carriers, not Samsung. Yes, it is stupid we have to wait for an update that is already out there, but it’s not -that- bad. My SGIII is better than my fellow iPhonites while it is running on ICS, I can only imagine I will be more satisfied when Jelly Bean is finally released. I switched to the SGIII from the iPhone 4s, I have been an avid iPhone user since the 3 was released and have owned every model since. I made the switch and couldn’t be happier, even with ICS. Guess I will just have to wait to see if Jelly Bean will only further satisfy me.

mack bradberry

Apple does have a lawsuit against Samsung.over stupid things.like the shape of the s3.and the home button setup.but there burning there own bridge.cuz Samsung makes there chips.I have a s3.and am getting the note 2 today.love Samsung.hate Verizon’s work ethics.

I’m just sick and tired of waiting this is getting beyond ridiculous how many times are they going to delay this update? I want a set date and most of all I want the update!

joe lowry

This is messed up. At&t and verizon are basically us usa users to root our device. I would be happy with the jelly bean updat….waiting for weeks. But no, have to go online looking for roms just to compete with my t-mobile frienda

Chilagurl

Both my iphones were jailbroken, and my samsung capitivate was rooted. Its not all that cracked up to be like people make it. You can have so many problems with a rooted phone, I spent more time on the internet trying to find fixes, then i actually got to enjoy my phones if I would of just left them stock. A lot of people complain about the bloatware on the GS3 but don’t realize you can go into the application manager and disable them. which is one of the main reasons why people root in the first place. Also if you disable the S voice from the home button it gets rid of that little bit of lag you see. You will have the last laugh when there phone starts freezing up, and there on the internet looking for fixes. It only takes one small mistake to mess up a rooted phone. Touch Wiz on the GS3 is really good imo, people just have to learn how to use it.

Chilagurl

I read that AT&T and Verizon were holding off due to Iphone sales being so low. Jellybean update is going to be a blow to the iphone. Both these carriers are in with Apple (Sprint and TMobile are not, they got Jellybean update) Apple also has a lawsuit against Samsung right now. All of these can effect the Jellybean waiting game.

The iPhone 5 sales were low because the demand for the phone was higher than the supply.

Andrew Shooner

“How many did we sell?”
“All of them.”
“Hmmm… that seems low.”

Chilagurl

I’m just saying what I have been reading online. And If that was the case then wouldn’t iPhone sales be considered HIGH and not low…What I read I believe has some truth to it, since It’s always been about Apple.

noles

Everyone will realize how much their iPhone 5 SUCKS when they release jellybean if that haven’t realized that already, compared to the S3.

sameer somu

yup probably the case. tmobile and sprint dont have iphone 5 and neither do the other countries worldwide where they released JB for S3

Jay

Actually Sprint went almost bankrupt over being an iPhone carrier, it did pay off compared to the other top 4 carriers. SoftBank of course came in and rescued, one of the operators of the most advanced wireless networks in the world covering Japan. So this theory is bunk. AT&T is waiting on ISIS NFC tap banking software to wrap up, it’s partners including Verizon are also waiting. This is why google wallet doesn’t work for carrier devices…they want a chunk of that transaction and it happens to be the ISIS software that involves the largest financial institutions to work with companies like Verizon, AT&T, and even T-Mobile(yes, they have released an update…but think about how it relies on android devices and the update is known as version 1).

Bryan Mendoza

Just got an ugrade with AT&T and chose the galaxy s3. As a former iphone user had I known updates are held back by carriers I would have thought twice about the phone I purchased and the carrier I am with. This makes phone shopping a huge pain now, why cant samsung just release the updates on their website? Is the AT&T navigator really necessary? We have all herd of google maps. This is rediculous I cant wait until my contract is over. Hopefully by then Apple will get their poop in a group as well.

Chilagurl

If you dont like the bloatware on the GS3 just go into the application manager and disable the apps you dont want to use. By doing that it also takes the widgets out of the drawer.

Rodney

Just got an ugrade with AT&T and chose the galaxy s3. As a former iphone user had I known updates are held back by carriers I would have thought twice about the phone I purchased and the carrier I am with. This makes phone shopping a huge pain now, why cant samsung just release the updates on their website? Is the AT&T navigator really necessary? We have all herd of google maps. This is rediculous I cant wait until my contract is over. Hopefully by then Apple will get their poop in a group as well.

disqus_22pEaRzR1G

I won’t buy a Samsung phone or AT&T anything after this… Google Nexus and another carrier – I hate AT&T even more now than when I had an iPhone.

Ryan

If your switching just cause you can’t wait for the update that’s pathetic. ITS is nothing to complain about. Yes, jellybean looks like it’ll be alot better but like I’ve been waiting 4 months and am with Telus. They said end of this month but recently I’ve heard it’s at least the 3rd of.December….I don’t even need the update to enjoy my phone anyways.

Robbers

I’m with Robbers (rogers) and would really like an official update… extended notifications… and now photosphere on 4.2… feel like I’m missing out

Att has always pissed me off with stuff. They have bad customer service and always messes up are contract phone upgrades. They couldn’t get it right with the release of the s3 and now the jelly bean update wail have so much att bloatware to slow the phone down

F1Wanabe

I’ve complained several times to Verizon about how T-Mobile and Sprint are ahead of the game compared to Verizon. They touted Verizon’s better coverage but I told them Sprint was just fine in my area…. They also blame Samsung for holding up the Update. Samsung, are you holding it up? I swear there are a couple fully functional leaked updates out there ready for install !!!! Must be the lack of bloatware that’s holding it up.